Russia has built a secret network of military and commercial aircraft to supply its forces across Africas Sahel region, according to new research by the Center for Advanced Defense Studies (C4ADS) that draws parallels with Moscows well-documented maritime shadow fleet.
The analysis, first reported by Euractiv on August 22, identified at least 75 flights from Russia to Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger between January 2025 and July 2026. Researchers concluded the flights represent a coordinated logistics system rather than isolated transport missions, suggesting a permanent supply chain supporting Russian military operations in the Sahel.
Sanctioned Unit Leads the Network
Russias 224th Flight Unit, controlled by the Defense Ministry and already under US sanctions, was identified as the networks most active carrier. Other operators included Sapsan Airlines, Liz Aviation, and Russias Emergency Situations Ministry, none of which are sanctioned by the European Union, United States, or United Kingdom, according to the C4ADS report.
The distinction matters: while the 224th Flight Unit faces financial and operational restrictions, its unsanctioned partners can freely access international aviation infrastructure, purchase fuel, and conduct business with foreign airports. Researchers compared this structure directly to Russias maritime shadow fleet, which uses networks of shell companies and non-Russian flags to evade Western oil sanctions.
Multiple Routes Through Strategic Hubs
The aircraft employed different routing strategies depending on their operator. Russian government planes frequently transited through bases in Syria and Libya under Moscows military influence, while private carriers typically traveled through commercial hubs in Turkey, Algeria, and the United Arab Emirates.
Libya has emerged as a particularly significant node in the network. Moscow is expanding its military infrastructure there, with the Washington-based Africa Defense Forum reporting, citing the US National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, that Russia plans to fund infrastructure projects and station personnel at six Libyan air bases. The facilities span central, eastern, and southern Libya and are being developed to support Russian aircraft, air defense systems, drones, and personnel.
Libyas position on the Mediterranean gives Russia a staging ground that bridges European and African theaters, while its relatively weak governance allows Moscow to operate with limited international oversight.
Sahel Forces Depend on Air Supply
Russias military presence in the Sahel has expanded rapidly since 2023, when military juntas in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger severed security ties with Western nations and turned to Moscow for support. The Wagner Group and its successor organizations have provided combat forces, advisors, and equipment to all three countries.
Maintaining these forces requires a steady flow of ammunition, spare parts, fuel, and personnel rotations. Maritime supply routes are impractical for the landlocked Sahel states, making air transport the only viable option for sustained military logistics. The C4ADS findings suggest Russia has built precisely this capability.
The discovery adds to growing Western concerns about Russias expanding military footprint in Africa, where Moscow has leveraged security partnerships to secure mining concessions, political influence, and strategic depth across the continent.
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